Business as usual for Plymouth North

The Plymouth North baseball team’s defense of its Division 2 South Sectional title got off to a good start, as Joe Flynn threw a one-hitter in a 7-0 victory over Scituate

Drew Bonifant

The lineup was hitting, Joe Flynn was throwing well, and in the end, the Plymouth North High School baseball team had another Division 2 South Sectional tournament victory.

The defending state champion appears to be in mid-tournament form.

Behind a one-hitter from Flynn, the No. 20 seed Blue Eagles (13-8) kicked off their defense of last year’s Div. 2 title with a 7-0 preliminary round victory over No. 13 Scituate.

“He was just phenomenal. He had all three pitches going,” said coach Dwayne Follette of his ace, who threw a no-hitter in his last regular-season outing.

“We just executed, got some big hits. If we hit through the lineup, we’re going to be dangerous. That’s what we have to do.”

Now, Plymouth North will put its repeat hopes on the line against Hockomock League champ and fourth seed King Philip at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Franklin.

The Blue Eagles didn’t need to do much to support the senior right-hander, whose repertoire of a high-80s fastball, knee-buckling curveball and splitter was in the strike zone all day.

Flynn fanned nine, four looking, walked none and fell behind in the count only twice. His lone slipup was a fastball in the fourth to his counterpart, Jordan Jenkins, who drilled it to the gap for a double.

It was the latest chapter in a glowing tournament resumé for Flynn, who threw a 10-inning shutout in the state championship game last year, but the senior was low key about the accomplishment.

“I knew Scituate was a good team,” he said. “I just wanted to hit my spots and throw hard. I was definitely waiting for this all season.”

Follette said those results aren’t unusual when Flynn is on his game.

“Right now, he’s pitching at a higher level,” he said. “He’s pitching at a college level. He’s tough. He’s got command of three pitches, he’s throwing the ball into the lower 90s, and people don’t realize what a fierce competitor he is.”

Flynn also contributed with the bat, going 2-for-4 with a run, while Matt Walsh (2-for-4, two RBI), Tom MacInnes (2-for-4, RBI), Ed Raeke (2-for-3, run, two RBI) and Phil Cash (3-for-4, run) also had big days at the plate.

“We’re peaking at the right time,” Follette said. “If we hit through the lineup, we’ll keep playing.”

Jenkins’s double was all for the Sailors (12-9), though coach Kevin Greer, who had an ace of his own last year in flame-throwing lefty Blaine O’Brien, knows what his team was dealing with.

“There’s not much you can do,” he said. “(Flynn) is legit. You can’t do much. You’ve got the kid hitting corners, hitting the black, hitting spots. You just try to get him out of his rhythm.”

There was controversy with the game before it even began. A win for Plymouth North, erroneously reported as a loss, brought the Blue Eagles down to a No. 20 seed, and pitted two 12-8 teams against each other in a matchup that shouldn’t have happened. Both coaches addressed the mistake, but both brushed it off as being overly significant. Follette pointed out that the goal for a team is to win regardless of seed, and Greer noted that the Blue Eagles would have been an obstacle anyway if the Sailors had been able to progress throughout the tournament. “You eventually have to go through them,” he said. “You’re going to see them, whether it’s the first time or three games down the road. That’s not a No. 20 team, and you eventually have to go through them.”

The Blue Eagles will send MacInnes to the mound Saturday, with Flynn available to try to pitch them into the semifinals – if the opportunity arises.

“Hopefully, MacInnes gives us a good start,” Follette said. “If Flynn’s on the mound, we’re a very good team. He gives confidence to everyone in the lineup. We’re going to see if we can bring it when he’s not on the hill. That’s the difference.”

Drew Bonifant may be reached at dbonifant@ledger.com.

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